Day of the Dead
Sunday the 20th of September is the most holy of days for the Cambodian Buddhist. It is called, “The Day of the Dead”.
This day is the last day of the 15 day celebration called Pchum Ben or the “Festival of the Dead”. Gail wrote about Pchum Ben earlier on the blog. Here are some additional facts about this day from the local newspaper.
“ During this and the preceding two week period, all Buddhist Cambodians should take offerings to at least one temple and a maximum of seven. It is believed that the more pagodas one visits, the greater happiness and more harmony they earn. If no offering is made during that time, the ghost will put a curse on the offender, resulting in a forlorned existence. However, if the ghost are fed they bless the provider; increasing the likelihood of success, health, and happiness.”
This tradition goes back to the time before the Cambodians were Buddhist. These animistic practices are tied to the Buddhist practices of respect and honor for ones ancestors, however. After being here less than one month, a young Cambodian named Kavick asked me if I believed in Ghost. I quickly said no of course not! I had no knowledge of his customs or beliefs and probably offended him greatly. After several years my answer might have been different or at least, more sensitive.
Rick
This day is the last day of the 15 day celebration called Pchum Ben or the “Festival of the Dead”. Gail wrote about Pchum Ben earlier on the blog. Here are some additional facts about this day from the local newspaper.
“ During this and the preceding two week period, all Buddhist Cambodians should take offerings to at least one temple and a maximum of seven. It is believed that the more pagodas one visits, the greater happiness and more harmony they earn. If no offering is made during that time, the ghost will put a curse on the offender, resulting in a forlorned existence. However, if the ghost are fed they bless the provider; increasing the likelihood of success, health, and happiness.”
This tradition goes back to the time before the Cambodians were Buddhist. These animistic practices are tied to the Buddhist practices of respect and honor for ones ancestors, however. After being here less than one month, a young Cambodian named Kavick asked me if I believed in Ghost. I quickly said no of course not! I had no knowledge of his customs or beliefs and probably offended him greatly. After several years my answer might have been different or at least, more sensitive.
Rick
posted by Rick Northen at 2:14 AM
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